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Countless men spilled their blood over me

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

Who / what am I ?

Hint

I always accompany the devourer of sons


EDIT : to clarify, the title refers to the "dreadful" feeling of the riddle, the thing is not an actual monster.

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  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Is it "onion" lol? $\endgroup$
    – prog_SAHIL
    Jan 5, 2018 at 13:31
  • $\begingroup$ @prog_SAHIL You know what? "Sometimes, even onions comply to me" could actually be a hint! $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 5, 2018 at 13:41
  • $\begingroup$ As promised, I added a hint $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 6, 2018 at 12:01
  • $\begingroup$ Is it relate to some video games? $\endgroup$
    – Alex
    Jan 8, 2018 at 17:48
  • $\begingroup$ @Alex : not at all :) $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 8, 2018 at 17:52

11 Answers 11

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Could it be...

a ring?

Countless men spilled their blood over me

Blood is often spilled in a fighting ring.

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

A ring can represent marriage. Some wed for love (a gift), while some are forced into arranged marriages or marry for convenience (a burden).

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

Viewing the bright ring, or annulus, that occurs during a total solar eclipse is an experience that can move some to tears.

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

Loud sounds, like ringing bells, can cause a prolonged ringing in the ears (i.e. tinnitus).

Hint:

"I always accompany the devourer of sons": as pacoverflow mentions in a comment, the Greek god Cronus devoured his children, and his Roman equivalent is Saturn, which is a planet encircled by rings.

Possible hint from comments:

"Sometimes, even onions comply to me" may refer to how onions can be fashioned into rings, for eating instead of wearing.

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    $\begingroup$ I think devourer of sons is Cronus (Saturn), and the planet Saturn has rings. $\endgroup$ Jan 8, 2018 at 22:11
  • $\begingroup$ The answer is about right, but the reasons given fit too loosely. The thing is indeed a ring but try to get away from the idea of engagement/wedding ring (except for one clue) to better fit each line ;) $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 9, 2018 at 9:29
  • $\begingroup$ @Keelhaul: Okay, but which clue is the wedding one? I'm guessing the second or third? $\endgroup$
    – gnovice
    Jan 9, 2018 at 20:07
  • $\begingroup$ Third :). Second has been found in some comment and fourth not yet. Still, time to accept the answer :) $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 10, 2018 at 9:22
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I'm fairly confident that you are:

TIME

Countless men spilled their blood over me

Countless men spilled their blood over time. In fact, every single man who had their blood spilled.

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

The gift of time, or the burden of time, refers to how one chooses to interpret the passage of time in their lives.

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

Little dubious, but could refer to people crying over the time that has passed, or when they miss some date to something important, or over the joy of memories of past times.

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

Bells toll when the clock hits a specific time.

Hint too:

"I always accompany the devourer of sons" - Cronus, the devourer of sons, is a titan that is associated with the personification of time. This could also explain the title, since Cronus's action made him seem like a monster.

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I can't comment, so this is going off of @gnovice's answer...

The answer is:

ring

Countless men spilled their blood over me:

a boxing ring

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden:

still working on this one... could this be the one related to marriage? some wed for love, others are arranged bearing gifts or bearing a burden

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

Tears were shed while cutting the onion, the simple form of an onion ring

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

the bell leaves a ring in your ear wedding bells ring, I sure hope you'd remember your spouse!

I always accompany the devourer of sons

@pacoverflow solved this one, cronus = saturn, and the planet saturn has rings

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  • $\begingroup$ First and last clues are right $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 9, 2018 at 15:47
  • $\begingroup$ Are the middle two on track? $\endgroup$ Jan 9, 2018 at 16:04
  • $\begingroup$ No and, well, could work but this doesn't explain why you remember me $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 9, 2018 at 16:11
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @EskimoPuddle ahh line 2 is probably referring to LOTR. A present to Bilbo, a burden to Frodo $\endgroup$
    – Sensoray
    Jan 9, 2018 at 19:43
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ I think your reference for #4 is actually the answer to #3 (well - actually - the precursor to that event!), and the answer to #4 has to do with this, referenced to some degree by a famous novel ... $\endgroup$
    – Rubio
    Jan 10, 2018 at 8:41
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Is it

A cross?

Countless men spilled their blood over me

The Crusades/religious wars, crucifixions, etc.

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

Some believe that JC dying on the cross was a gift to them, but I am sure that those who actually has to carry their cross to Golgotha thought of it as a burden.

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

Some people cry in church

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

Church bells

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  • $\begingroup$ It could work, but no. I have the feeling this riddle may be a little too broad, I'll probably add another clue tomorrow to narrow it down. $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 5, 2018 at 15:34
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Is it

Death

Countless men spilled their blood over me

Men spill blood to avoid and or produce death

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

To some death is something to be celebrated however others fear death so it may be seen as a burden

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

The simple sight of most things death related can make you shed a tear, a loved one in a coffin perhaps...

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

Bells toll at a funeral, funerals are a reminder of death

Sometimes, even onions comply to me

Even onions comply to death after being eaten or rotting

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  • $\begingroup$ That's not it, sorry $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 5, 2018 at 15:20
  • $\begingroup$ No problem :), I've had another go after your edit $\endgroup$
    – BISHOP
    Jan 5, 2018 at 15:39
  • $\begingroup$ That's not it either :) $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 5, 2018 at 15:41
0
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Is it:

Earth/Soil?

Countless men spilled their blood over me

Unlike today's cold wars, millions of people died fighting over lands in the past.

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

Israel for ex. claims a certain area in near its region as their promised lands. I'm not sure who calls their soil a burden.

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

Still thinking on this one.

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

When the "bells toll for thee" , you will be going back to the soil.

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  • $\begingroup$ Not this either $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 5, 2018 at 21:14
0
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My thought is

Life

Countless men spilled their blood over me

In fighting, you may need to kill others to save your own life, or get hurt yourself to protect others.

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

Life can be considered both a gift and a burden by some

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

Tears of happiness at birth, or a baby's cries

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

Bells sound at the memorial of a deceased one

I always accompany the devourer of sons

Life and death are always related

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  • $\begingroup$ Nor life, nor death, nor an abstract concept $\endgroup$
    – Keelhaul
    Jan 6, 2018 at 15:55
0
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Are you:

Circumcise?

Countless men spilled their blood over me

Yes...

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

a gift from god, or burden when it's over-extended

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

Yes but I dunno if it's tear of joy or

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

When the church's bell toll

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Is it:

a child

This seems to readily fit most of the clues.

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This makes me think of

A solar eclipse

Countless men spilled their blood over me

In less civilized times, aztecs sacrificed many people during the eclipses

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

Some people think they are special an enjoyable, but some people see them as bad omens

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

If you glance at the sun while it is being eclipsed, it will damage your eyes

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

Not sure on this one though

HINT

I always accompany the devourer of sons - I see this as being wordplay, meaning Suns, the moon is sometimes referred as the devourer of the sun during solar eclipses. So in this case, when a moon goes to cross in front of our view of the sun, the solar eclipse will always accompany it.

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It is:

A beard.

Countless men spilled their blood over me

Cut when shaving!

Some called me a gift, some called me a burden

Some men like their beard and some think it's a hassle

Tears were shed at the simple sight of my form

Because they are feeling lazy

And when the bells toll, you'll remember me

???

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